Fifth-graders' field trip is a day on the job

Escondido students take part in BizTown financial literacy program

Because every student has a job in BizTown — such as mayor, Cox Communications technician, U-T reporter, Channel 933 radio DJ, Procopio attorney, and Sun Diego sales person — the lessons include discussions about career interests and skills. Students fill out a job application and interview with the school principal and a teacher.

Erdos said the BizTown program ties in well with fifth-grade math curriculum. Computing interest on loans and calculating taxes for the students’ businesses involve multiplying and adding decimals, he said.

Perhaps more crucial are the life skills and fun of BizTown.

“The responsibilities and teamwork involved are also important to these kids,” Erdos said. “They finish the day with a new appreciation for their parents and their careers. Hopefully, for their teachers, too. … They’re only 10. They need to have fun, too.”

The busy Scripps CEO, Ivan, said he would tell future BizTown students that “you’ll have fun if you do your work.”

Running BizTown requires dozens of parent volunteers, and on Monday, about 36 Bernardo moms and dads arrived at 7:30 a.m. at BizTown for training.

Parent Craig LeVier, who has attended BizTown twice, said he appreciates its purpose.

“The controlled chaos is a really good way for them to understand how crazy the real world and life is,” LeVier said. “Phones constantly ringing, having to pay bills, people wanting everything at once … isn’t something taught in schools, so it’s a good view of that portion of life.”